On Day 1, Yogi Adityanath Sets Tough Targets For Officials, Cops

In the meeting, Yogi Adityanath reportedly urged officials to be transparent in recruitments.

Lucknow: Yogi Adityanath, taking charge as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after a spectacular mandate for the BJP, began work today on some of the party's major election promises including farm loan waiver and a ban on slaughterhouses. In his first meeting with top officials of the state, the priest-politician distributed copies of the BJP manifesto for required reading and execution. Officials were also administered a cleanliness pledge. Among his first appointments of the day, Chief Minister Adityanath met with the state police chief hours after the killing of a politician of Mayawati's BSP and asked for a plan to tackle crime in UP.

Here are 10 points on Yogi Adityanath's first meeting:

In an hour-long meeting with officials, Yogi Adityanath discussed massive loan write-offs for lakhs of farmers and action against slaughterhouses. He also ordered work on other manifesto promises.

The Chief Minister will "work out schemes and appointments in consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office", said sources. The Principal Secretary to PM Modi will coordinate between the centre and Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP has scored its biggest win yet.

Confirming that the new government is working on a promise to shut down slaughterhouses, Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya said a decision would be taken "soon", in the first meeting of the cabinet. There appears to be some ambiguity, however, on whether action will also be taken against licensed slaughterhouses.

Two slaughterhouses that shut down last night in Allahabad were running without permission, say officials. Yogi Adityanath has always been vocal about shutting down slaughterhouses but meat traders say such a move will hit revenue as well as jobs.

The 44-year-old Chief Minister reportedly directed officials to declare their assets, be transparent in recruitments and not work under political pressure.

He also administered a pledge of cleanliness and asked officials to enlist at least 100 more for the cause. The Chief Minister, say sources, advised officials to follow the example of foreign countries.

In his meeting with the Uttar Pradesh police chief this morning, the Chief Minister reportedly expressed concern over the killing of a BSP leader in Allahabad last night and ordered a blueprint for better policing in Uttar Pradesh within 15 days.

Yesterday, immediately after his oath ceremony, Yogi Adityanath held an informal meeting with his cabinet and asked all ministers to submit details of their wealth within 15 days.

Ministers have been warned against speaking to the media except through Shrikant Sharma and Siddharth Nath Singh, who will be spokespersons for the UP government.

Yogi Adityanath, a five-time MP who heads the Gorakhnath temple, moved into the Chief Ministerial home at Lucknow's 5 Kalidas Marg in the afternoon. Seven priests from Gorakhpur performed housewarming rituals before the move.